Pitzer Spotlights

Elise Carlson ’03
From Fulbright to Foreign Affairs Officer

The complement of the Pitzer in Turkey program and majors in Political Studies and Media Studies at Pitzer College prepared Elise Carlson for her Fulbright to Sweden.

“I participated in Pitzer’s Turkey program in Spring 2002. It was without a doubt the fundamental reason why I received the Fulbright Fellowship and my job at the State Department, Carlson said. She continues, “I currently work on democracy and human rights programs in the Middle East and use foundational lessons I learned about Islamic culture and society while living in Turkey for my job in Washington, D.C.”

Carlson credits Professor of Political Studies Nigel Boyle for inspiring Pitzer students to think and analyze the world around them: “He gave us the technical knowledge to apply for fellowships and get paid to travel and explore the different cultures of the world.”

While at Pitzer, Carlson was a junior class representative, EU Center student representative, Model United Nations participant, and an intern at the Children’s Law Center in Los Angeles. “I had a wonderful experience at Pitzer. I am so proud of the intercultural understanding and knowledge that the students are so deeply encouraged to explore. I feel grateful for the opportunities and scholarships that I received even to attend Pitzer in the first place,” Carlson concludes.